What if Getting Older isn’t the Scary Part?

Halloween is almost here.

A time for ghosts, witches, things that go bump in the night and, apparently, an alarming amount of pumpkin-flavoured everything.

But recently I’ve been thinking about something a little different…

What are we actually afraid of?

And if I’m completely honest, I’ve realised that some of the things I worry about aren’t really about health at all. 

They’re about getting older.

I’ve noticed little changes in myself that I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about a few years ago.

Perhaps I don’t recover quite as quickly. 

Perhaps my body feels a little different. 

Perhaps I have days when I look in the mirror and think, when did that happen?

And then I catch myself.

Because I know better.

I spend my working life encouraging women to appreciate what their bodies can do, to move them, nourish them and work with them rather than constantly fighting against them.

Yet I’m not immune to those little thoughts either.

I’ve also learnt, with age, to be a little more selective about what I give my energy to.

Some things matter.  Some things really don’t.

And honestly, that’s been quite liberating.

Maybe that’s why Halloween got me thinking…

We spend so much time talking about the things we’re frightened of, but perhaps some of our biggest fears aren’t the obvious ones.

Perhaps they’re the quieter ones that creep in without us noticing.

Are you afraid of getting older?

We’re constantly being encouraged to look younger, feel younger and somehow fight the natural process of ageing.

But getting older isn’t something we’ve done wrong.

Our bodies change. 

They always have.

What we could do at 25 might feel different at 45, 55 or 65. 

We may need more recovery, notice changes in strength or flexibility, or simply find that our bodies need a little more attention.

That’s not failure.

It’s adapting.

Are you afraid of gaining weight?

This is a big one for so many women.

We’re bombarded with messages telling us how our bodies should look, often disguised as health advice.

But your body isn’t a project that needs constant improvement.

Weight and shape can change throughout our lives. 

That doesn’t automatically mean something has gone wrong.

Perhaps instead of asking, ‘How can I make my body smaller’, we could ask:

‘How can I make my body stronger, healthier and happier?’

Are you afraid of slowing down?

We’re very good at being busy.

Another workout. 

Another job. 

Another healthy habit to tick off the list.

But rest isn’t laziness. 

Recovery isn’t failure.

Sometimes your body needs movement.

Sometimes it needs stillness.

Both are valuable.

Are you afraid of getting it wrong?

This might be the biggest one of all.

Am I exercising enough? 

Eating the right things? 

Stretching enough? 

Doing the right type of exercise?

There’s so much advice out there that looking after ourselves can become another thing we’re expected to be perfect at.

But health isn’t a test you can fail.

There isn’t one perfect diet, exercise routine or way of looking after yourself.

There is simply where you are today – and what might help you feel a little better tomorrow.

So, what are you really afraid of?

Maybe it’s not getting older.

Maybe it’s what getting older means.

Maybe it’s not gaining weight.

Maybe it’s the fear that your body no longer looks the way you think it should.

Maybe it’s not slowing down.

Maybe it’s the worry that if you stop, you’ll fall behind.

And perhaps this Halloween, we could all be a little kinder to ourselves.

Our bodies aren’t problems to solve.

They’re the things that carry us through our lives.

They change. 

They adapt. 

They get tired. 

They get stronger. 

They sometimes surprise us.

And they deserve a little more understanding than fear.

So enjoy the pumpkins, dress up, watch something spooky and eat the chocolate.

But perhaps take a moment to think about the other things that frighten you.

Are they really something to be afraid of?

Or are they simply things you’ve been taught to fear?

Because sometimes the scariest thing isn’t change itself.

It’s how much energy we spend trying to avoid it.

Maybe we don’t need to be afraid of getting older.

Maybe we just need to keep moving, keep adapting, keep learning to listen to our bodies…

…and enjoy the journey.

Sam ‘choosing strong’ Hobbs